::How is the investigation going?:: Prowls asks seriously when Nacelle establishes contact.
"Thundercracker has been invaluable. His knowledge of those stationed at D-14 has helped me to narrow it down to twenty suspects." Nacelle answers just as serious, "Of course we haven't taken the most recent transfers into consideration, but with the knowledge you have given me, it seems like this operation from the syndicate has been ongoing for some time."
Prowl remains silent, studying his bondmate.
::Are you sure you can handle this, Nacelle?:: He asks softly.
"I'm the only one you have." Nacelle says and avoids the real question.
He is not an investigator, has none of the training that are required to deal with a situation like this, but he is the only one they have at the facility who can do the investigative work. No matter how much Prowl wants to send assistance, the Joint Investigation Unit can't do anything about the situation.
If they suddenly make a move to strengthen their presence at D-14, then the syndicate will know that something is wrong and will relocate their activities.
The Joint Investigation Unit have to attack all of the syndicate's operations in one fell swoop, if they are to crush it completely and get the chance to get a hold on all of the leaders behind the criminal organization. And they have already identified which facilities that has been infiltrated, and are in the most cases keeping close optics on the syndicate's identified undercover agents.
But they still need to identify the leaders and find out from where they operate.
::Nacelle...::
"I'm fine, Prowl. You don't need to worry about me. I'm still a bit shocked after the attack on Skywarp, but I am truly fine." He reassures his bondmate and returns the soothing presence in his spark.
::I will do whatever I can to speed-up our investigation and help you identify the undercover agent, but I can't do anything about his presence at D-14 as long as we haven't identified the leaders.::
"I know that and it is okay. I have asked Thundercracker to stay in the medical bay or at least remain within the facility. Skywarp has woken from coma and seems to survive the attack without permanent injury. He still has access to the warp-gate and should be able to keep Thundercracker safe, if something happens."
::That is a good strategy, but you too need to be careful.::
"I know that, but I'm not their target and my weapon is hopefully enough to keep me safe if something should happen." Nacelle adds and activates the small ion cannon built into his right wrist as emphasis.
::I have upgraded your personnel file with the license to kill, if you should need to act before we can arrive. And Topkick is on the team that is coming to D-14 when the operation commences. I want you to remain in the background and not attract any attention to yourself, while he deals with the threat. The syndicate is merciless, and it is impossible to know what their undercover agent has planned as an countermeasure, if he was discovered.:: Prowl adds deeply serious.
Nacelle nods in understanding.
"You don't have to warn me about their mercilessness. I see the results of it every day and have lost good colleagues to their cowardly attacks. If their agent is going after me, then he will regret it."
Alpha-2.
The guard stares at the message, uncertain about how he should react.
Alpha means it is sent from one of their highest ranked leaders, and it is rarely a good sign.
"Hotglide, D-14, at your service." He says in recognition of who he speaks to after the contact has been established.
::Status on latest order?::
"It failed. I will do better-..."
::SILENCE!::
::Your contact have informed me that you have an old friend of mine at D-14, and I would like to reacquire him as soon as possible.::
An highly encrypted message is received and Hotglide decrypts it.
::Have you understood what I want you to do?::
"Yes, Sir. I won't fail this time." He answers while hiding his surprise at his new orders.
::Good. You will be contacted when it is time. Be ready.::
The connection is cut, and Hotglide stares thoughtful at the screen in front of him.
He has never been a part of a high-risk mission before, and if he completes it with success, then he has a chance to rise in the ranks. But if he fails, then he knows that nothing can save him. Either the Joint Investigation Unit will get their hands on him or his superior kills him.
The execution needs to be flawless.
In the following hours, he decides on how to address the new mission and makes his plans diligently.
When the door into the surveillance room opens in the morning, he has entered a light recharge while leaned back in his chair.
"Good morning, Hotglide." Sonar greets him, "Anything to report from the night?"
Blastwave enters after the helo-former and finally Nautica arrives.
"There were a few situations early in the night, but none of them required my direct interference. Medical was able to handle it on their own." He reports before he walks out of the surveillance room to get some proper recharge.
All he can do now is wait.